Author: WebDesk

After impressing with the bat in his debut T20I series against the West Indies, Mitchell Owen is now gearing up for his maiden ODI series. While he’s expected to slot into the middle order, the Tasmanian all-rounder is unfazed, ready to embrace the demands of 50-over cricket with the same aggressive mindset. Owen earned his first ODI call-up for the upcoming home series against South Africa, starting August 19, following a standout T20I debut where he scored 50, an unbeaten 36, 2, and 37 at a remarkable strike rate of 192.30, primarily batting at No. 6. With Steve Smith, Glenn…

In a huge setback for Pakistan, senior batter Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match ODI series against West Indies after suffering a left hamstring strain during the second T20I. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that no replacement will be named for the series. The 35-year-old sustained the injury in the 19th over while chasing a ball in the outfield. He received immediate attention from the team physio and has since been sidelined from all cricketing activity. Consequently, Fakhar did not feature in the third and final T20I, which Pakistan won by 13 runs to…

Former England captain Graham Gooch has voiced his concerns about the future of Test cricket amid renewed discussions around a potential two-tier structure being considered by the ICC. The proposed system could lead to an increase in matches among the so-called “Big Three” — India, England, and Australia — potentially sidelining other nations. While Gooch acknowledged the intense rivalries between these top teams as beneficial for the sport, he warned that this shouldn’t come at the cost of excluding other cricketing nations. According to various reports, the ICC is in talks with the cricket boards of India, Australia, and England…

New Zealand fast-bowling allrounder Nathan Smith has been ruled out of the second Test against Zimbabwe due to an abdominal strain. In his place, pace-bowling allrounder Zakary Foulkes has received his first call-up to the Test squad, as confirmed by New Zealand Cricket (NZC). Smith picked up the injury on Day 2 of the first Test in Bulawayo while batting. He was forced to retire hurt at the end of the 93rd over, having made 22 off 79 balls, and did not return to the field for the rest of the match. An MRI scan later confirmed an abdominal strain,…

Swashbuckling West Indies batter Rovman Powell has been officially ruled out of the ongoing T20I series against Pakistan after failing to recover from a wrist injury sustained during the recent home series against Australia, which the hosts lost 5-0. Cricket West Indies confirmed the news ahead of the second T20I, also announcing that no replacement will be named for the remainder of the series. Powell injured his wrist while attempting a catch in the outfield during the fourth T20I against Australia on July 26 in St. Kitts. The 32-year-old missed the fifth and final game of that series but was…

Australian opener David Warner took a cheeky dig at Joe Root, suggesting the England star will need to “take the surfboard off his front leg” if he hopes to handle Josh Hazlewood in the upcoming Ashes series set to be played in Australia later this year. Currently the No.1 ranked Test batter in the world, Root has struggled to score big runs on Australian soil. In 14 Tests down under, England’s most-prolific run-scorer has scored 892 runs at an average of 35.68, with nine fifties but no centuries — his highest being 89. Warner pointed out that Hazlewood has dismissed…

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has acknowledged that the pitch at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNS) in Mirpur, Dhaka is currently not suitable for hosting international cricket. After the heavy criticism during the recent Bangladesh-Pakistan T20I series, which Bangladesh won, BCB’s cricket operations chairman Nazmul Abedin addressed concerns around the quality of the pitch. He clarified that the board never instructed curators to prepare a slow and low surface. The SBNS pitch came under fire after both teams struggled to post competitive totals in what turned out to be a low-scoring series. Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson was particularly…

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has emphasized that players from opposing teams should avoid any form of physical contact on the field. His comments came ahead of Day 3 of the ongoing fifth Test at The Oval, following a moment involving India pacer Akash Deep and England opener Ben Duckett on Day 2. The incident occurred when Akash Deep dismissed Duckett in the first session after the left-hander gave England a strong start with a brisk 43 off 38 balls. As Duckett began his walk back to the pavilion, Akash Deep—smiling—placed a hand around his shoulder and exchanged a…

In a huge setback for England, all-rounder Chris Woakes has been ruled out of the remainder of the ongoing fifth Test at The Oval due to a shoulder injury. Ahead of Day 2, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) released an official statement confirming that Woakes will be monitored for the rest of the match, but is “at this stage” not expected to take any further part. The ECB stated: “England seamer Chris Woakes will continue to be monitored throughout the remainder of the Rothesay Fifth Test at The Kia Oval, following a left shoulder injury sustained on day…

Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are set to compete in a T20I tri-nation series ahead of the upcoming Asia Cup. The tri-series will be held from August 29 to September 7 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE — which is also scheduled to host the Asia Cup beginning September 9. The tri-nation series will provide ideal preparation for all three teams, giving them a chance to get used to the conditions in the UAE ahead of the continental tournament. Played in a round-robin format, each team will face the others twice, with the top two…